As for age im guessing the average age is about 27 ish.

I'm guessing the average age for our key men is 31 ish

Maybe so. But the team overall isn't old. In fact its a good mix.

I don't think there is formula at all.

We beat another team on Saturday in a one off game. At least 10 teams in super league should be just as capable of beating any other on a given day. Simple as that.

I will stick to what I have said all season. This team is very capable of winning one off games, but does not any longer have the legs or the ability to do it consistently. We won on Saturday, but I think there is a bigger chance of us losing this Friday than winning, as I don't believe we can back up performances. And I can't see us been able to perform to the required standard for 3 play off games in order to win the main trophy of the GF.

The players may well believe they can turn it on as required when it matters, but I personally think their body's show differently.

Depends on who they come up against and their form at the time. Last year it fell very nicely.

=#FF0000Last year that's the point.

Looking at leeds last ten games i think they peaked for the wcc then aimed for semi final time and to hit the play offs in form again. All the last few are winnable games. It will be interesting to see how wigan fare having been 100% from day one

I don't think we can look into anything from the Semi final. The games leading up to it were easy winnable games, and in truth in patches they struggled. The Semi was a game that the players had the ability and desire to put a huge effort in to win.

Like I said previously, the test comes in backing it up. I wouldn't be surprised if we lost on Friday. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if we lost 3 of our last seven league matches, despite all been against oppossition you would prefer to have, and probably losing the two games either side of the cup final.

Friday will a struggle i think but i expect us to finish fourth looking at remaining games

Neither do I.
I agree that fatigue could be a part of poor performance, after all they had to come into the season ready for the WCC rather than half-cooked, that alone will account for a mid-season dip in fitness (and form is very difficult without fitness).
Hence June was not a good month.

I'm arguing against myself here, I am hoping that's the case and that we are poised for a storming last third of the season.
But it'll take more than a couple of games to convince me.

average age of starting props 35

I don't buy into this 'not trying until the big games' theory that some on here believe in.

Last year through out the season was poor but McDermott taking over late and having to bring in his own new coaching staff, no McGuire and Peacock to start with and even then took then while to get really going in games. Unrest with Cross and Burgess, Senior getting injured around May time and Sinfield, McGuire and Burrow changing from 13, 6 and 7 to 6, 7 and interchange 9. Also young players like Watkins and BJB giving a chance and then picking up injuries too. It also most importantly seemed to take a while before the squad clicked with McDermott as their leader, and McDermott himself didn't look settled in for quite a while.

As for this year, getting up for the WCC, trying to rely on pretty much the same 13 to win every game, and complete under usage of the 4 guys on the bench led to this year's form and results we saw around May/early June. This year has not been as bad as last year, good wins at home against 3rd place Catalan and 2nd place Warrington (some will say Wire didn't play to good that day but 12 months ago i think we'd of still lost that one), we should of had Saints beaten at home after taking an early second half lead only for McDermott to not interchange enough during that game. As for some of the other defeats we have faced some really good performances (teams do actually raise their game when they play the current SL champions and WCC winners), have/will Hull FC play any better than they did against us at the KC? We met the Giants in their usually good patch, if that game was scheduled for any round after week 10 then it's probably 2 points for Leeds. Saints battered us the game after their coach left (happens a bit in sport) and Wigan away felt like a no contest with all eyes on the WCC. The real low part of this season came in the back to back beatings against Wigan and Warrington and too much i think got said publicly off the field that didn't help, McDermott questioning if the guys were waiting for the mythical end of season, GH threatened axing of under performers and Peacock getting into a spat with Schofield. Hopefully all looks to be behind them and the mood looks happy again.

There is still some structural issues within the team in attack and especially defence that willl rear it's head again at times that need working on and the problem of playing certain players too much with a CC Final and Playoffs looming is a worry. However throughout everything with the likes of Sinfield, Peacock, JJB etc on the pitch i know that 'not being bothered about regular season games' only exist in some fans head. (that last line cue a big sulking response probably from those who know for a 'fact' that the players aren't trying

)